Deflected spray quench



April 1956 J. M. EDWARDS ETAL 2,743,099

DEF'LECTED SPRAY QUENCH Y led May 25 INVENTORS Ellis J. Gottlieb 8 John M. Edwards. 2 M ATTORNEY WBTNESSES fl w/222A MOXQW United States Patent DEFLECTED SPRAY QUENCH John M. Edwards, Ruxton, and Ellis J. Gottlieb, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania 4 Application May 25, 1954, S erial No. 432,258

4 Claims. 01. 266-4) This invention relates to apparatus for the heat treatment of metallic workpieces, and more particularly to inductor apparatus that is provided with a novel device for the quenching of the workpiece.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for the heat treatment of hollow metallic workpieces.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved inductor apparatus for heat treating the inner surfaces of hollow metallic workpieces in which apparatus a novel device is employed for the quenching of the surface of the workpiece.

It is a further object to provide an improved inductor apparatus by which the inner surface of a hollow metallic workpiece of considerable length may be heated and quenched uniformly over its area with the workpiece moved at a uniform rate relative to the inductor.

It is an additional object to provide a novel device for the quenching of a heated inner surface of a metallic workpiece that is both simple and economical in cost and operation.

In accordance with the invention, a stationary coil is provided with a novel deflecting member positioned adjacent to the end portion of the coil. The hollow metallic workpiece whose inner surface is to be heat treated is supported by a quenching member with the workpiece and quenching member being moved in a direction that is coaxial with the axis of revolution of the coil so that the coil is effectively positioned within the hollow section of the workpiece. As the workpiece is moved, its inner surface passes adjacently to the coil and the surface is progressively heated and then quenched. The quenching action is provided by means of a jet of cooling medium which is released by a vent positioned in the quenching member adjacent to the hollow section of the workpiece. The jet passes through the hollow section, impinges on the deflecting member and is deflected toward the inner surface of the workpiece to provide quenching thereon.

These and other objects of the invention are effected as will be apparent from the following description and claims, taken in accordance with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application and in which is shown a side cross-sectional view of an inductor apparatus employing the novel quenching device in accordance with our invention.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a stationary inductor member which may be a simple helical coil 2 with a plurality of turns of a conductive material such as copper. The turns of the coil 2 may be in the form of a hollow conductor to allow a cooling medium to flow therein for the cooling of the coil. The leads 4 and 5 of the coil are positioned adjacent to the conductors 34 and 35 which conductors are adapted for connection to an alternating current power source. Conductors 34 and 35 are separated by a layer 32 of insulating material. The leads 4 and 5 may be connected to a suitable source of quenching medium.

The workpiece 8 whose inner surface 10 is to be heat 2,743,099 Patented Apr. 24, 1956 treated is positioned adjacent to and supported by a quenching member or workpiece holder 18. Within the quenching member, an aperture 26 is provided which is connected to one end of channel 24. At the other end of the channel 24 a vent or nozzle 22 is provided and so positioned that it may eject a jet 20 of a cooling medium into the hollow workpiece 8 with the jet being substantially parallel to the inner surface 10 of the workpiece. The quenching member 18 is so constructed that it will facilitate the movement of the hollow workpiece 8 in such a direction that the inner surface 10 will be adjacent to the coil 2 with the coil being efiectively positioned within the hollow workpiece throughout the scansion travel of the latter body. Channels 28 and 30 are provided in the quenching member 18 to permit the removal of the cooling medium after it has been utilized in the quenching operation.

The deflecting member 12 is composed of any suitable insulating material and is positioned adjacent to one end portion 6 of the coil 2. The surface 14 of this deflecting member which is adjacent or exposed to vent 22 is provided with a shape, which will cause suitable deflection of the cooling medium in a predetermined and downward direction as shown in the drawing. A channel on the surface 14 may be provided, as shown, to produce the desired directional deflection. A shield retainer member 16 is provided, which is adjacent to and which substantially surrounds the junction of the end portion 6 of the coil and the deflecting member 12. This shield retainer member 16 aids in securing the positioned deflecting member 12 and is provided as a shield to minimize the heating of the latter member due to its proximity to the surrounding heated inner surface 10 while the induction apparatus is in operation.

In accordance with our invention the hollow workpiece 8, whose inner surface 10 is to be heat treated, is placed in or supported by the workpiece holder or quenching member 18. The workpiece 8 and quenching member 18 are then moved relative to the coil 2, until the latter coil is so positioned that it will effect the heating of the end portion of the workpiece that is adjacent to the quenching member 12.

Power at suitable frequencies is then applied to the conductors 34 and 35 which are in electrical connection with leads 4 and 5 of coil 2. The workpiece 8 and quenching member 18 is then moved relative to the coil 2 at a uniform rate in the direction as shown by arrow A in the drawing. After a sufficient portion of the inner surface 10 has been heated the quenching operation is started. The cooling medium obtained from a suitable source is supplied to quenching member 18 through the aperture 26 and flows through the channel 24 therein to the vent 22. The cooling medium is formed into a jet 20 when passing through the vent. The jet then passes through the hollow workpiece 8 and impinges against the deflecting member 12 and is deflected on the curved surface 14 of the latter member, and is thnsly directed toward the inner surface 10 of the workpiece 8 which surface has previously been heated. The cooling medium impinges against the inner surface 10 and flows along the latter surface to be subsequently removed through the channels 28 and 30. It is to be understood that the heating and quenching operation may be continuous throughout the heat treatment of the entire length of the workpiece 10. However, if desired, only portions of the workpiece may be heat treated by proper positioning of the quenching member 18 relative to the coil 2. After the workpiece 8 has been heat treated it may be easily removed from the quenching member 18, another workpiece inserted therein and the above operation repeated.

It should be apparent from the above description that this apparatus may be readily utilized in the induction .3 hardening and uenchiggof the inner surfaces of work pieces with small inside diameters. Further, this apparatus would be particularlyinuseful in the heat treatment of-mnaihpamszon :aninass produotionebasis.

Tiwihitiemve haveeshovvneour; incention: in :pa rtiouiar'ly: one ienirhodimenhvit-twitlvbe :obvions to tho.se.-skilied;in .,the tart hatc it'jsmot SQi fiIlilifilibBHiS isusccptible ofr'vacious tehmgeseand .imodifimrtions without depaliting from s the spirttathereof. s Foreeaample, rather than have IthesindllC- torucoil zemairc-stati'onaliywhileethewworkpiece is 'moved relative-to it, quiterobvi'mtsly :tlie coil could be moved relative ;to: the workpiece with; ihe; iaater: body. being supportedhyr-a-stationam memberorsevemnby a member moving: atra: different velocity.

1min. apparatusriorgheatrhzeating the, innercssuriace of aa-hollowwo'rkpiece, in apparatusa cooling medium is: provided for :quenchingasaid surface; the combination of an inductorreoil having :an end: portion, a movable quenching member, said quenchingzr-nember beingpro- 'ViClQdfiS =a support-'forisaid workpiece and provided to fHGiIitBtEiIIIOi/fil'fififlt ofjheinnerzsurface ofi the workpiece relative to said coil, with a ventprovided within said quenching :mcmher,. and-a deflecting; member positioned adjacent to the endqportioniof'said coil, said vent being operative toprovidea vjetxaf said cooling medium which jet impinges :against "-said deflecting member, such that saidjet is deflected towards -said inner surface of the workpiece to bequenched.

2. In apparatus for heat:treating the inner surface of 1a hollow-metallic workpiece'in whichapparatusa cooling medium is provided for, quenching said surface, the combination of-ansinductor coil having an end portion, a movable quenching member,..said'quenching member being provided to support said=workpiece adjacent to said coiland to:.effect movement-oE- .the. inner: surface of .the workpiece relative to said coil, witiva vent provided Within said quenching membenanda deflectingmember of insu- :lating materialzattached to the endportiori'of said coil, said vent providing a :jetxof-saidcooling medium, with saidiet being deflected towards .therirmer surfacerof 'said workpiece by said deflecting member for the uenching of said inner surface.

3. In apparatus for heat; treating the inner surface of a hollow metallic workpiece in which apparatus a cooling medium is provided for quenching said surface, the combination of an indrretspfiwoil; having an end portion, a defiectinginember, saiddflflectingmember Comprising insulating materialanmbeingpositioned adjacent to said end ,portiomof theteoil, =a. -shieltd-imtainingemerrrber-surrounding saidicndrportihmf thecnuilriagd .thnidcflectin g member, and a-quenching momher isaidz quenchingsmem ber provided as a support for said workpiece and-provided' with an ,outletcfor said coolingrmediumewith said outlet providing a jet of said cooling medium Which jet upon impinging againsasakliilefiemi'dgmember is deflected toward said surface of the workpiece.

4. In apparatus for heat treating the inner surface of azhollow metallic} workpiece whiehsiapparahis is provided 'Witha cooling medinm zforethetqnenohing mf r the surface of .said workpiece, the eeombination of an inductor coil having an end portion,rawohgmnelcdiiiefiectingmem-ber of iusulatingtmateiiah szidrddflectingzmernberdaeing attached tothe ,end 'PIMILiOH'Df SBidECOiI, auihieldmember substantially surrounding the deflecting member and the end portion of saidwbil;andiazmovablewvonkpiece holding device, saidi ,holdingidevice; being provided: for holding said workpiece andrproa-iding'movemenhof the inner surface of -the:wo|:kpi eae-:relative itOlSSidrOOll, with a nozzle provided within said .hni'clingfievice zsaidnozzle producinga ietnof'eaidrconling :me'dinmuwhich jet: impinges ,against said Ldflfl2tlflg 'rmem'berzwit h the latter member thereby :dtzfledbing: said'iifit mflafli the inner surface of said workpieceto quench said surface.

References? Gited inthefile of thistpatem .UNIIED STATES: PATENTS Strickland L-June 12, 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR HEAT TREATING THE INNER SURFACE OF A HOLLOW WORKPIECE, IN WHICH APPARATUS A COOLING MEDIUM IS PROVIDED FOR QUENCHING SAID SURFACE, THE COMBINATION OF AN INDUCTOR COIL HAVING AN END PORTION, A MOVABLE QUENCHING MEMBER, SAID QUENCHING MEMBER BEING PROVIDED AS A SUPPORT FOR SAID WORKPIECE AND PROVIDED TO FACILITATE MOVEMENT OF THE INNER SURFACE OF THE WORKPIECE RELATIVE TO SAID COIL, WITH A VENT PROVIDED WITHIN SAID QUENCHING MEMBER, AND A DEFLECTING MEMBER POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE END PORTION OF SAID COIL, SAID VENT BEING OPERATIVE TO PROVIDE A JET OF SAID COOLING MEDIUM WHICH JET IMPINGES AGAINST SAID DEFLECTING MEMBER, SUCH THAT SAID JET IS DEFLECTED TOWARDS SAID INNER SURFACE OF THE WORKPIECE TO BE QUENCHED. 